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Oscar fashion: Scarlet fever

Reds rule the red carpet

For the Minnesota Star Tribune

February 25, 2008 at 10:54PM

The Oscar ceremony brought out the brights under the lights. Actresses wore every shade of cherry, crimson, garnet and ruby. Throw on a few flowers and show a shoulder for the best fashion-watching of the year. It was Hollywood glamour at its best. BEST DRESSED

Anne Hathaway

This ruby-colored goddess gown by Marchesa set off Hathaway's porcelain skin. With the elegant rosettes over her left shoulder, she took the honor for the best overall. To Ryan Seacrest, Hathaway described her dress as a "diaphanous sheath." True enough.

BEST-DRESSED COUPLE

Heidi Klum and Seal

Seal wore Dolce & Gabbana and Klum wore Galliano. Together, they looked made for each other. Heidi's neutral makeup helped set off the dress. Note: You don't need to wear red lipstick with your red dress.

BEST DRESSED 15-YEAR-OLD

Miley Cyrus

Did she need to wear full-length Valentino? She probably would have looked her age in something a little bit shorter and more fun. That said, the bright crimson hue rocked with her un-Hannah Montana hair color.

BEST DRESSED 'GREY'S ANATOMY' CHARACTER

Katherine Heigl

Her one-shoulder Escada was streamlined and sleek, but the peekaboo at the other deltoid was a little distracting. She showed how to match your red lipstick to your dress. Heigl's Marilyn curls were bouncy, but sorry Katherine, Patrick Dempsey's hair looked a bit better than yours.

BEST IMPRESSION OF A FLOUNDER

Marion Cotillard

She played the very French Edith Piaf. She is French. Not surprisingly, she wore a French designer, Jean Paul Gaultier. However, the under-the-sea theme -- a mermaid silhouette and actual scales -- came out of nowhere.

SCARIEST GARBAGE BAG

Tilda Swinton

Who needs a stylist? Swinton reached for the Hefty bag. She might have been awarded most prepared, had there been a real downpour.

MOST BORING

Ellen Page, Jennifer Garner and Laura Linney

The reason? They wore black and, in Linney's case, midnight blue. This year, with the bright colors on the red carpet, the frocks seemed kind of blah.

BEST MATERNITY GOWN

Jessica Alba

The deep plum strapless gown set off Alba's glowing skin tone. The flowy fabric and goddess cut flattered her third-trimester baby bump.

BEST DRESS-EYE-COLOR COORDINATION

Amy Adams

Her structured strapless Proenza Schouler gown was a work of art. The most striking aspect was that the dark teal matched her deep blue-green eyes.

BEST DRESSED PREVIOUS WINNER

Hilary Swank

She went dark chocolate and black. She combined the popular botanical vine, one-shoulder style and floating layers.

MOST ELEGANT

Amy Ryan

She was probably just happy to have been nominated, but her elegant navy sheath by Calvin Klein made her look like a statue, even if she didn't take one home.

BEST METALLIC

Renee Zellweger

Her boyish hairdo was balanced by the feminine, full-length strapless Carolina Herrera silver gown. She put a twist on the full-length dress by showing a lot of leg in the front, channeling her inner Rockette.